Corporations are consistently seeking ways to improve their overall organizational performance and consumer's perceptions of ***** quality service and innovativeness. Over the last several years, the matrix structure of management, where an employee has a direct report m*****ager but also is influenced and heavily directed (and sometimes funded) by ano*****r manager/organization has become a major ***** trend. Matrix management is rapidly becoming popularized and adopted by corporations seeking solutions to budgetary, manpower ***** productivity issues.

***** the individual a matrix management type of strategy presents the challenges of serving two masters. To managers, it presents challenges in directing the behavior of employee's that do not report directly to them and that they cannot directly reprimand or fire. For ***** teams, members also often struggle w*****h varying agendas and incentive plans, thus management is faced with a challenge when attempting ***** coalesce the team. Power *****s and employee conflicts have plagued many organizations that have sought out matrices ***** incorporated this system as an integral part of daily functioning.

Thus, the problem that managers are faced with is determining whe*****r the faults of a matrix ***** style outweigh ***** benefits. The aim of ***** research study is to examine the nature ***** the matrix structure of management and the problems inherent in it, in order to attempt to propose a better solution or *****ganizational paradigm for ***** success.

***** preliminary research review suggests ***** inherent in any matrix management style ***** ***** potential for inter-group conflict; thus this paper will also seek to determine whether or not solutions to this negative *****pect of matrix management can be determined.

***** REVIEW

***** ***** styles, much like other management programs including total qual*****y improvement (TQM) and customer relations management (CRM) is rapidly ***** an increasingly popular style ***** *****. Its potential for success and failure ***** explored in greater depth **********.

Hayden, Kaya and Wood (2002) suggest a model similar to the matrix ***** of management that may actually prove beneficial ***** organizations. Called the 'power bloc' *****ory, Hayden, ***** and ***** ***** that the boards or management ***** ***** two different corporations can effectively coordinate plans ***** dec*****ions "by interlocking directors through toe boards of ***** o*****r corporations." The idea is that by networking firms can build density and extend their influence and power.

Similarly, *****in ***** given organization, when used beneficially, more than one manager or director ***** oversee the operations of a single group of employees in order to facilitate greater productivity and *****. However, ***** dealing with employee behaviors and attitudes, having more ***** one manger to report ***** can ***** prove challenging and cumbersome, particularly when substantial thought is not put into the process of defining each manager's roles and functions.

Burns (1989) conducted a study of 315 hospitals utilizing ***** management programs several years ago. His ***** verifies ***** matrix ***** "involves ***** distinctive elements" that can be used to develop lateral coordinative devices ********** an organization. When first